October-November 2005
Watching Government
Port of Bellingham
Action Taken at July 7, 2005 Meeting
Shall the commission:
74. Authorize the executive director to sign a contract with Puget Sound Executive Services of Seattle to provide security at the Bellingham International Airport? The Whatcom County sheriff’s department is canceling their contract to provide airport security. The sheriff can no longer afford to provide security because the federal government’s reimbursement rate is $24.15 per hour below their hourly cost of $55.74. The Executive Service guards will receive $35.37 per hour, the federal government reimbursed rate is $31.59 per hour resulting in an annual cost to the port of approximately $25,000. Approved 3-0
75. Authorize the executive director to sign a $42,300 contract with Landau Associates of Edmonds to monitor groundwater at Mount Baker Plywood? This is a follow-up to the monitoring to the cleanup of a boiler ash disposal area that was completed in 1999; an additional groundwater well will be installed and four consecutive quarters of water will be collected from the site. Approved 3-0
76. Authorize the executive director to sign a supplemental lease agreement with the federal government for modifications to offices at the airport industrial park? The federal government will pay $189,540 (in one lump sum) for additions to the remodeling being done at the request of the Department of Homeland Security. The additions include break and exercise rooms, locker facilities, communication room and four supervisor offices. Approved 3-0
77. Authorize the executive director to sign an amended contract for $9,540 with Carletti Architects of Mount Vernon for office modifications? See vote 76 above for remodeling additions to the Department of Homeland Security offices. The original contract was $72,445 and a 10 percent contingency fee of $7,555 brought the total to $80,000. Approved 3-0
78. Approve an easement agreement with Mt. Baker Products and Swaner Hardwood Company? To meet county shoreline regulations the companies have entered into the easement with the port for a propane tank. Approved 3-0
Action Taken at July 19, 2005 Meeting
Shall the commission:
79. Approve a $36,807 lease with the United States Coast Guard for the Fairhaven Terminal? The lease is for a stub pier to moor two 87-foot vessels, approximately 1,000 square feet of warehouse space and 1,400 square feet of office space. The Coast Guard will spend over $500,000 for office improvements and to construct a floating dock on the stub pier. The lease is for one year with 9 one-year renewal options. The rent will increase 3 percent annually. Approved 3-0
80. Sign a collective bargaining agreement with the International Association of Firefighters Union, Local 3266? The previous contract expired in December 2003 and a mediator was called in to settle neg. The new contract has a 2 percent wage increase each January 1 (retroactive) and runs from 1/1/04 to 12/31/05. Approved 3-0
81. Authorize the executive director to sign a $61,570 contract with Springbrook Software of Portland, Oregon, for the training and implementation of accounting software? The current accounting software was installed in 1991 and last upgraded in 1998. The contract included a 15 percent contingency of $9,250 for a total of $70,820. Approved 3-0
Action Taken at July 22, 2005 Special Meeting
Shall the commission:
82. Authorize the executive director to award the low bid of $1,089,933 to Colacurcio Brothers of Blaine for a tenant improvement project at the Bellingham International Airport? The remodel project will provide office space for the Department of Homeland Security. The federal government will pay $580,500 for tenant improvements and the port will recover the rest in rent over the next five years. The rent will be about $450,000 per year with an 11 percent annual rate of return. The contract includes a 5 percent contingency fee of $65,000 for a total of $1,154,933. Approved 3-0
Action Taken at August 16, 2005 Meeting
Shall the commission:
83. Adopt the Whatcom County multijurisdictional hazard mitigation plan? In order to receive federal national disaster relief, the port commission must have an approved disaster plan. (Resolution 1213). Approved 3-0
84. Authorize the executive director to sign the 2003-2009 collective bargaining agreement with the Inlandboatmen’s Union? Terminal agents and custodians will receive retroactive payments for 2003 and 2004 and 2 percent annual wage increases for 2005 through 2009. The agreement shall be effective from 1/1/03 through 12/31/09. Approved 3-0
85. Authorize the executive director to accept a federal grant of $404,442 for two Bellingham airport improvement projects? The FAA grant will cover 95 percent of the cost of two projects, adding bathrooms, seating capacity and installing new flooring in the secure area; extending the walkway for deplaning passengers, remodeling the existing bathrooms and painting the interior of the terminal. Approved 3-0
86. Authorize the executive director to amend the agreement with the state to perform a remedial investigation/feasibility study at the I&J Waterway site? The state has identified the port and Bornstein Seafoods as potentially liable parties for contamination of the site (11/16/04 meeting, vote number 116). The draft plan will have a 30-day public comment period starting in early September. A state grant will fund 50 percent of the port’s share. Approved 3-0
87. Authorize the executive director to execute an agreement with Transmart Petroleum and Shell Oil Company to perform a remedial investigation/feasibility study at a fuel terminal site on Roeder Avenue? A bulk fuel terminal operated on port property at 2800 Roeder Avenue from the 1930s until recently. Tenants at the site have included Shell Oil and Northwest Fuel Company. In early 2002, Northwest Fuel merged with another company to form Transmart Petroleum. Shell and Transmart will contribute 45 percent each and the port will contribute 10 percent for the study and cleanup program. Approved 3-0
